City of Tekoa
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
For October 17, 2016
I. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor John Jaeger called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Council members present at the meeting were Jaeger, John Giudice, Alyssa Heagy, Roy Schulz, David Tysz, and Troy Wilson. Clerk/Treasurer Kynda Browning was also in attendance. Audience attendees included Keith Andersson, Todd Gabbard, Duane Groom, Diane and Bill Harp, Heidi and Kevin Turnbough, and Neil Hodgson and Paul Rossow from the Department of Ecology Air Quality Program.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor John Jaeger asked those present to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION: Diane Harp announced that next week is red ribbon week. The fall carnival will be held at the grade school on October 29th. The coalition is promoting homecoming in the entire community and will hold a bonfire east of the footbridge at 6:30 p.m. on November 3, 2016.
Neil Hodgson and Paul Rossow, Air Quality Specialist, were in attendance from the Department of Ecology. Paul Rossow talked about outdoor burning.
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: A gentleman was in attendance and said Celebrate Recovery will be held on Wednesday nights at the Tekoa Community Church.
V. CORRESPONDENCE: There was none.
VI. OLD BUSINESS:
A. SALARIES: Mayor Jaeger said he met with the four employees to see what they want next year. He is recommending all four employees have their medical insurance paid, including the increase, Duane Groom a 2% pay raise, Tara Chittenden’s salary be raised to $15.00; Kevin Turnbough would like a six-week unpaid leave at a time convenient for the city, and Kynda Browning would just like her medical insurance paid. He said it would cost the city approximately $5000 for all the medical and pay raises.
Mayor Jaeger asked the council if they would like to “sit on this” for a month. The council asked to table it, and a decision will be made in November.
Troy Wilson asked to look at other municipalities’ salaries and benefits. Browning will gather information and get it to the council.
B. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT/ACTION NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH - HOUSE WATCH: Alyssa Heagy is getting information to Stephen Bishop for the code enforcement board. She discussed how the patrols will be set up. There is a list of people who have signed up to do patrols. She will put an article in the newsletter and is planning to have a meeting in November.
C. ANIMAL ORDINANCE: Mayor Jaeger is still working on this.
D. TANNER LOTS FOR SALE: Mayor Jaeger said we don't have a bite on this. He is wondering if we are allowed to accept a bid. The council asked to have it put in the Whitman County Gazette. Roy Schulz made a motion to make the minimum bid $3000 for the Tanner property we purchased. Troy Wilson seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
E. SPEED SIGN BY RUHL PARK: It was decided to put “20 mph” and “slow children at play” signs on all three sides of Ruhl Park.
F. BIDS FOR .09 GRANT: We will do this next month.
G. STREET LEVY: Mayor Jaeger said he would like the council to remind people to vote.
H. COHN TRUST: We are waiting for Stephen Bishop to get information to Gloria Rasmussen.
I. TRIANGLE PROPERTY IN FRONT OF TODD GABBARDS: Todd Gabbard was in attendance to discuss the property. He said he planted plants on the property to keep people from parking there. There was discussion about putting a light and flagpole on the property, and also run water to across to it. Troy Wilson said he likes the idea of putting a flag pole and water onto the property. For now, we will put a “No Parking” sign on the property.
Mayor Jaeger said he would like to get water to the “Welcome to Tekoa” rock garden area near Wilbur Ellis.
VII. NEW BUSINESS:
A. 2017 PRELIMIARY BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Jaeger opened the public hearing. Mayor Jaeger went over the preliminary budget and discussed salaries and benefits. Mayor Jaeger closed the public hearing.
B. 2017 TAX LEVY PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Jaeger opened the public hearing. Browning presented Resolution No. 16-08, keeping the levy rate at the current level, and not raising it one percent. John Giudice made a motion to accept Resolution No. 16-08, keeping the levy rate the same. Troy Wilson seconded the motion; all council members voted yes. Mayor Jaeger closed the public hearing.
C. AWC INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND RESOLUTION: Browning presented Resolution No. 16-07. The council would like to review it further and consider adopting it at the November council meeting.
D. CHANGE CEMETERY ORDINANCE SO ALL PLOT MONEY GOES TO CEMETERY FUND: We are waiting to get this from Stephen Bishop.
E. AMEND 2016 BUDGET - ORDINANCE NO. 830: Browning presented Ordinance No. 830, increasing the revenue and expense for the sewer fund by $5,500 and the expenditures for the sewer reserve plant fund by $15,000. Roy Schulz made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 830 as presented. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
F. COOPER ANGELO WAGE FOR MOWING LAWNS $12.00 /HR: Mayor Jaeger asked the council to approve paying Cooper Angelo $12.00 an hour for mowing lawns. Roy Schulz made a motion to approve paying Cooper Angelo $12.00 an hour. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
G. ORDINANCE BOOKS CONVERTED TO DIGITAL - PROPOSAL: Browning presented a proposal to the council to consider getting the ordinance books converted to digital. After discussion, they asked her to get more information for next month.
H. UPDATE FEE RESOLUTION NO. 99-16.2: Fee Resolution No. 99-16.2, adding the $5.00 late fee for garbage, was presented. Troy Wilson made a motion to approve Resolution No. 99-16.2 as presented. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
I. VARIANCE FOR SHOP ON CORNER OF BYRON AND MADISON ST: Mayor Jaeger presented a map to the council to review the request for a variance to put a shop on the proposed property. The council reviewed the map and asked to have a survey before they would allow him a variance to build a shop.
J. EMPIRE THEATRE LEASE AGREEMENT: We will send the council the proposed lease agreement before the next meeting.
K. SOLAR ENERGY GRANT APPLICATION: After discussion, Alyssa Heagy made a motion to rescind the motion from the last meeting, to have Apollo Solutions do the estimate. Troy Wilson seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
VIII. REPORTS:A.MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Jaeger reported there is a temporary dwelling near the trail that needs to have things done to it to bring it into compliance. He also reported we have someone in town who had their water shut off for non-payment, and they turned it back on themselves, so the police visited them.
He told the council a proposed sewer raise of $1.00 will be put on the November agenda for discussion. This will bring us closer to the amount required to get a loan when we have to do the improvements to the sewer plant.
B. CLERK/TREASURER REPORT: There was none.
C. COUNCIL REPORTS: Dave Tysz went to the RTPO meeting and asked if we have a complete street policy. There was discussion. He also reported the Army Corps of Engineers will be holding a meeting to discuss closing the dams.
IX. CONSENT AGENDA:
A. APPROVE September 19, 2016, MEETING MINUTES: Roy Schulz made a motion to approve the September 19, 2016, meeting minutes as presented. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. APPROVE BILLS FOR PAYMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to approve payroll checks 12526 through 12539 and EFT payroll checks totaling $26111.51; and check numbers 12540 through 12568 and EFT checks for $51,408.90 as presented. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
X. ADJOURNMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 p.m. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
APPROVED:
____________________________________
John Jaeger – Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Kynda Browning – Clerk/Treasurer
|